These kids literally just watched their favorite bird yeet themselves off the cliff.

Then get brought back up- by a GIANT BEAR.

Then that bear turned into a HUMAN? A huge, huge HUMAN?

Those wagon children were MADE. Cheers surrounded the two, some running to go grab friends. Others trying to brave asking the bear how they did such an amazing thing?! Others started stomping around, roaring with their hands stretched out like claws, pretending to be the mighty creature that braved the cliffs. A few had now surrounded themselves around Dove and Arbok, glancing at the two.

Dove was speechless, still trembling on the ground.

"Oh. She does this a lot." one of the kids pointed out. "It's a lot of fun. Jer says that if we spook her enough, we could make a pillow out of her feathers!"

Dove blinked, groaning a bit before she sits up, shooting the most annoyed look at the children. "At this rate, I am not going to make any more candy for you anymore." she protests. "Wait! No! We were just kidding!"
 
This was a lot of attention all at once.

"What?"
She looked to Dove who seemed familiar with the children.

"You spooked her? Hey, that's not very nice."
Her heavy breth stalled her words a bit but she tried to sound tough and like she was someone that should be listened to, which usually never worked.
"Someone could have been hurt you guys."
In the kids defense, Dove's feathers were soft she found as she picked one up in her hand. Large and white. Much bigger than even a gooses.

Even so it was no excuse to act this way towards someone like Dove, who seemed to be as frail as her namesake. One of the children who acted like a bear stalked over to her.
"Oh you want some do you?"
She returned the gesture, roaring gently at him unable to stay stern long enough to make her telling off stick, satisfied the kid gave another roar before bursting into a cackle of laughter.
Besides Dove seemed to have her own methods of persuading them. Candy based methods

"You make candy?"
Arbok liked candy.


@Dove
 
Dove sighed. "I.. In a way. Yes. Not like the ones they make in the city. More.. more natural ones." she frowned.

"Made out of nuts. Honey. Spices. Fruits. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of time. But if I start really early in the morning- when I have some extra supply.." she sighs, pushing herself off the ground. She brushes the dirt off of her robe, an annoyed frown. "And to think; they want candy after that?? Do you all know how high I fell?"

"To be fair it was kind of cool.." one of the children pointed out. Which.. stroking her ego was a way back into Dove's heart. She seemed to stiffen a bit. Well, it was kind of cool. right?

She sighed. "If.. you want- I may have some leftover c-a-n-d-y" she spelled out the word to keep the children from guessing. "that I would be willing to offer you as payment for your trouble. Finding a way up here without your help would have been.. aggravating. And- well, the Road does not wait for anyone."
 
If she still had the ears they would have perked up.

"Yes, please and thank you. Those sound great!"
Arbok would walk a mile for honey and nuts.

She joined Dove in standing and finally stopped catching her breath.
"In fact."
Her eye went back down the cliff side. It looked a longer climb down than up.
"Mind if I tag along? Since we're going the same way. I can show you around once we get there."

Earnestness came to her voice then a softness that contrasted her size.

@Dove
 
The bird looked at Arbok with great confusion. She expected Arbok to know Roki- but, how was she to expect Arbok knowing where the wagon was going? How exactly big was this little bit of the world she was in? There was something confusing, but also.. terribly isolating about the thought. A thought that was swallowed with a shake of her head.

With a shrug, she just continued.

"I.. am not really a member of the wagon. I guess, I am just travelling along. Though, they let me keep my items in one of these.." she scratched her head, trying to remember which one was the right wagon..

"I like to believe it is payment for my services." she explained.
 
"Oh, well. I'll do that too then."

Her smile widened.
"And it's always nice to stick close to a healer."
Bending her face low to Dove she spoke in a hushed tone, for secrecy.
"And I can keep these rascals busy."
Meaning the children who still busied about them which she turned to and called.

"Hey, who wants to hang off my biceps?"
Flexing her arm there were cries of eagerness and hands reaching up to grasp as she knelt down to arise with three, two on one arm and one on the other. Which she held with pride as the others cheered.

@Dove
 
The healer proceeded to navigate her belongings, once she was able to identify them. There is an overwhelming scent that seems to break the air, a lure as much as it is a repellent. A combination of medicinal bitterness and the sultry smells of cinnamon and vanilla. She puts the basket down, opening the lid, and searching inside. From it- she plucks some herbs of different shades, colors. All medicinal in nature. All carefully wrapped, and dried. Each one has notes on it, including what they were used for.

From this, she pulls out a few satchels. These ones smell extremely sweet, sugary.

She offers them to Arbok. And with a careful tone, explains each one.

"So, these ones are roasted walnuts, that I covered in sugar and cinnamon, along with a small spray of vanilla." She pauses. "This one, is cashews, dried with an orange jam and honey. They're chewy." She then offers the last one. "These are maple bits. Essentially, crystallized maple syrup that I harvested earlier this week."

"Again. Thank you for bringing me back home." she bowed.

If Vyn heard her, she might have screamed.
 
"Oh it's no problem!"
Her smile remained as she let the children down, some tried to hold the smaller ones up like she had with varying levels of success.
"These sound great."
Eyes widened as she say them and heard about the contents. She had run out of snacks a few days ago and was hoping the wilds would provide but these were proper treats, the kind you paid for and everything. Had the children not been so close she would have devoured all three bags right then and there.

"So you're a healer?"
Arbok was covered in scars from her unfortunate battle but they did not hurt her anymore and really you only noticed them if you looked carefully.
"Is that how you met Roki? Did he banjo his foot again?"
The memory of Roki almost breaking his toe as he kicked the wall after a frustrating day was one of the times she thought him most funny.

@Dove
 
"Indeed, I am." she smiled softly.

There is a strange warmth that echoed from her words. Something inviting and welcome. Something that would reach, and soothe. As she turned to face Arbok, she tilted her head to the side, and clasped her hands together. "My people are a healing people. We take the hate and pain from others, in many ways, and we share love. And through that love, we 'make miracles' happen, as the children say nowadays.." she chuckled, with a little bit of a blush. "I'll.. admit! I am.. still getting used to the praise. It was not common where I was from."

"It takes a bit out of me, but seeing someone able to live their best because of that- I will never change my choice."

".. And yes-" she raised her hand. "That is how I met Roki. I uh.. didn't know he banged his foot. But, he was helping his companions after brigands raided their caravan. I healed them." she nodded.

"He's a gentle soul. I imagine he will be a fine knight with practice." There is a solid nod.
 
"Takes it out of you? I get that."
She had seen the effects of magic on people and it seemed to weaken them, not just tire but something was taken, like it starved them of something vital like water.

"Well that's Roke for you. Always helping someone."
The amusement fled her voice quickly and she was reminded that danger, real danger awaited anyone who left the Monastery.

"For such a small guy he has a big heart... is he okay?"
Roki found trouble a lot it seemed and it was troubling that he had to seek help so soon after crossing into the south. However Dove's final statement on him caused her to tilt her head. She had not considered that Roki was indeed going to become a Knight one day, it seemed assured to her that Gruki would but Roki, he was just Roki.
A strange thought.

@Dove
 
Dove smiled.

"Oh, he is okay. I know that initially, he was bothered by the events.." Dove trailed, but her eyes had a light optimism.

"But, I am a healer, not just in the body, but in the mind as well. We sat down together, and we had breakfast. We talked a bit about the.. events. I also sang him a song that my people do every morning to 'wake up the sun.' He seemed to really enjoy it all. He was in so much better spirits once he left with the knight."

The memory was a fond one. Although it was rooted in trauma, it had become a moment of growth and strength. "I agree, that he has a very big heart. I believe one day it will change the world. At the very least, with time, he would be a fantastic healer."

She nodded knowingly.
 
"You don't say,"
Arbok enjoyed the story and it was good to hear that despite the trouble Roki was well. Gruki would be glad to hear it and that he made another friend.

"Well he was lucky to meet you and I'm glad he didn't embarrass himself. Way to go Roke."
Hands on hips she congratulated the boy who was not there and took a second to unfasten her shoes from her belt, the earth here was grassy but she'd need them on for travel.
Dropping them with a practiced hand she slipped into them again, snugging her toes to the ends.
"You sing too? Wow is there anything you suck at?"
She teased, magic and wings were a pretty cool combination but making sweets and a talent like singing. Arbok could barely carry a note, hay bails the size of horses sure but not a tune so it was pretty impressive.

"I'd like to hear you sometime!"

@Dove
 
"..."

She looked at Arbok confused. "What would he need to be embarrassed about? He was just a squire doing his duties. Admirable if anything." A casual shrug.

"There are quite a few things I cannot do. For an example- as you noted, I cannot fly." she chuckled. "My wings are too small for it." Her eyes looked to the herbs. "I am also not.. a fan of conflict. I would much rather handle matters peacefully. I believe Roki is probably far braver than I." she nodded with a sagely commitment.

".. If you are interested in hearing some of the songs, usually, I do sing for the children, and for the other wagon members at dinner. Perhaps if you stay- you can be a part of that performance."

It was warm. Inviting. And we all know how good the wagon performers were..
 
"Me? No I can't so much as tap my foot in rhythm."

Her smile fell a bit. She really had tried, a few times but it was beyond her.
"I'm happy enough to listen but if you need anything carried I can go all day."

Hand behind her head she scratched an itch she did not have.

"And I can fight for you. It's what we do, well what I do mostly is clean but I can fight too or ya know, also a bear. You'd be surprised how few people want to tussle with me once they've really seen me."

Wow Roke, you really left an impression.
"Yeah he's brave, just don't tell him that. His ego is big enough as it is!"
She laughed remembering his pride and how, despite his ability, it seemed so easily bruised at times.

@Dove
 
"Really? He didn't seem so.."

Ah yes. The part where Dove now accidentally ruined Roki's home life because she was not aware of social dynamics.

"Roki seemed rather quiet, and reserved. He seemed to prefer to listen, and responded rather humbly to my requests." she explained, pointing a finger in the air. "He also seemed quite easy to embarrass. I had to be a bit gentle when mentioning certain things, or he would get flushed rather quickly. Almost seemed like he did not have much in the way of kindness or hugs. I also question whether he had seen bird kin. He kept touching my face and my feathers. A lot."

She paused. "To be fair, I never seen an.. orc-kin either? Or his purple hair. But I wasn't sure if the touching was just an Orckin thing or not."

"The good news is: I do not think you would need to fight. I would only want you to share company and spread the warmth and joy of love." She paused. "Platonic, of course- that is something I have learned recently, people's interpretation of that word is very specific."
 
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